Drug mule Melissa Reid may be sent back to Scotland to serve her sentence for trying to smuggle £1.5m of cocaine out of Peru.

She and Michaella McCollum Connolly were sentenced to six years and eight months in jail in December after being arrested at Lima's airport carrying 11kg (24lb) of cocaine hidden in food packets in their luggage.

The Peruvian government has written to the Scottish authorities seeking clearance to let the 20-year-old from Glasgow complete her jail term in her home country.

A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed to Sky News they have received a "repatriation application" from Peru.

Image Caption:Reid and McCollum Connolly in court

It is understood that most prisoner transfer applications are accepted.

Her father Billy Reid, 54, has also met with Scotland's justice secretary Kenny MacAskill. He told the Mail on Sunday Mr MacAskill had reassured him Scotland "has no issue" with accepting Melissa to serve her sentence back home.

He said: "We understand the Scottish Government can't promise to magic her back home and they won't pull any strings, but it was very comforting to hear that they are not against any move."

Reid, who has no previous convictions, would be regarded as a low-risk prisoner - meaning she could qualify for home leave or even be released wearing an electronic tag, according to reports.

She and McCollum Connolly - who became known as the Peru Two - are sharing a cell at Virgen de Fatima prison, a jail notorious for overcrowding and disease.

Image Caption:Reid's father talks to the media in December

Reid has written to her parents Billy and Debbie, saying she hopes to be back on "home turf" before her 21st birthday in August, according to the Scottish Mail on Sunday.

She reportedly wrote: "Although I won't exactly be going right home and will be going to a prison, at least I will get to speak my own language 24/7 and be around people similar to me.

"I am so surprised that my request is being dealt with so quickly and urgently and although I know it has not yet been accepted, I feel confident about the process now after having some news so quickly.

"Who knows, I could be out of this place before my 21st birthday and that would really be a dream."

Reid is likely to be housed at HMP Cornton Vale near Stirling, some 25 miles from her parents in Lenzie, Dunbartonshire, the paper said.

It is understood McCollum Connolly, also 20, has not yet started the transfer process.